Uganda: No Woman Should Be Sexually Assaulted By Security Forces

At this time, I would like to be on record as having today expressed concern about my own personal safety and security and that of some of our university students. One has not been seen in the last several days and after trying to contact him on his cell phone and

[Comment]

I am happy to see that the InternationalCommunity including the United States, a major supporter of the Ugandan government, has denounced the sexual attack against Ingrid Turinawe byUganda's security forces. In a statement the U.S. State Departmentsaid: "As we have stated on numerous occasions, freedom of expressionand peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights and a criticalcomponent of democracy."Many of us in Uganda have always believed this; many have sacrificed their lives for this right. Ugandans were shocked and deeplyembarrassed by the barbaric attack on Ingrid. The State Department alsostated: "We condemn any excessive use of violence by police....Weencourage Uganda to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by security services and to hold perpetrators accountable. We alsocontinue to encourage Uganda to take tangible steps to improve its human rights record, particularly with regard to the protection of civilliberties and the human rights of women and of minority populations."I am confident that we represented the feelingsof millions of outraged women around the world who may have seen the images of the attack on Ingridwhen we demonstrated in front of the police station last Monday. We wanted the police to know that werespect our bodies even if they did not and that we will stand up andprotect our rights.Uganda is involved in a democratic struggle, and I've chosen toparticipate peacefully, but most often our non-violence has been metwith violence. We are encouraged by the messages of support that havecome from all over the world especially through social media outlets.In addition to fully participating in all the peacefuldemonstrations that had been coordinated by A4C, I have been workingwith university students to empower them with job creating skills. Ihave experience running business from the time I spent abroad. For thelast several weeks, I have been sharing some of those skills withstudents from Kyambogo and Makerere Universities and we have alsodiscussed various ideas about job creation. As you know youthunemployment level in Uganda stands at an abysmal 83%.At this time, I would like to be on record as having today expressed concern about my own personal safety and security and that of some ofour university students.In one of our meetings with students atMakerere University, two unidentified men approached our table and tookour photographs without our permission. When we confronted one of them,he said that our meeting was "illegal."Some of the students are alsobeing intimidated by security operatives. They have reported receivingthreatening calls and text messages. One of the students from Kyambogo,[John Mugabi] who had also received such messages, has not been seen in the last several days and after trying to contact him on his cell phone and checking hishome, we are seriously concerned about his whereabouts. We pray that hehas not come in harm's way.We call upon the International Community to ensure that thisgovernment respects the universal right of freedom of movement, freedomof assembly, and freedom of expression. We also call upon countries such as the USA and UK which helps sustain this government to hold itaccountable for any acts of violence against civilians duringdemonstrations and to even suspend any foreign aid assistance that onlyemboldens government impunity.No person's right to protest should be limited in a free countrywhich is supposedly at peace. No woman should be targeted for standingup for her beliefs. No woman should be sexually assaulted by securityforces whose salaries are paid by taxpayers' money for their protectionand safety.FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY